While the global Covid-19 pandemic lingers, a new normal is being created concurrently by smart organisations as the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) says it has resolved to conduct its 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the 2020 elections for the positions of VP1, VP2 and 4 Council seats digitally. The virtual event is scheduled for Thursday, 16 July, 2020 and the results of the elections would be announced during the online AGM.

Sharing the information to its members on the institute’s website, Tony Agenmonmen, President/Chairman of Council, conveyed the resolutions of the Council, while emphasising the need to conduct the AGM and elections online. Citing the NIMN Act, which stipulates a maximum time lag of 15 months between two AGMs, the Council boss explained that the 2020 AGM must be held on or before 10 August, 2020.

Recall that the Council postponed indefinitely its 2020 Annual Marketing Conference and AGM that had been scheduled for 16 -17 April, 2020 in Benin City, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the protracted nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council met online on the 7th and 14th of May, reviewed the situation and resolved to proceed with the new normal.

“At this moment, the direction of the pandemic, from all predictions, is uncertain. In the circumstance, it is difficult to speculate on how soon the conference and AGM can be re-scheduled to hold in a physical location. In addition, the NIMN Act makes a restrictive provision that the maximum time lag between two AGMs should not be more than 15 months. Based on the date of the 2019 AGM, the 2020 AGM must be held on or before 10 August, 2020,” said Mr. Agenmonmen, the Council President.

He also noted that the 2020 elections for the positions of VP1, VP2 and 4 Council seats will proceed as per existing guidelines, except that the results would be announced during the online AGM.

“In order to allow for members of the institute to have a fairer assessment of the candidates standing for the elections, a moderated online debate will be organised for contestants during which time, members of the institute may ask them questions,” the President noted.

The 2020 election contestants are: First Vice-President, Mr. Idorenyen Enang, Mrs. Ifeoma Sheila Emasiana-Dike, Dr. Onyekachi Onubogu and Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha, while the second Vice-President is Mr. Chuka Eborah.

The contestants for the Council seats are Mr. Babatunde Bewaji, Mrs. Adenike Olufunke Olufade, Mr. Walter Okafor, Chief Hope Gbagi and Dr. Peter Oriavwote.

Mr. Idorenyen is a proven reform-minded business leader with a passion for development economics. He has demonstrable expertise in Business Management, Organisational Design, Marketing, Sales Operations and a licensed practitioner of Insights Discovery and Liberating Leadership UK.

Mrs. Emasiana-Dike belongs to several professional bodies. She is a Full Member of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM); Fellow, Institute of Data Processing Management of Nigeria (IDPM); Fellow, Ex-Council Member National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN).

Dr. Onyekachi Onubogu holds a B.sc in Physics from the University of Jos, an MBA from the Gordon’s Institute of Business Sciences in the University of Pretoria, South Africa, an Advanced Management Program certificate from the Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctorate degree from the SBS Swiss Business School in Zurich, Switzerland.

Dr. Mustapha is a visionary, dynamic, thoroughbred Marketer, Chartered Engineer, Mathematician, Economist, Decision-maker and Entrepreneur. He has held visible leadership positions such as Board Chairman, Pro-Chancellor, Managing Director, General Manager, Teacher and Consultant, while working for world-class Multinationals and Nigerian public and private organisations. He possesses over 35 years work experience with 18 years at board level.

Mr. Eborah is a consummate marketing professional with over two and a half decades of post-graduation experience. He is also vast in commercial and logistics support services. His other areas of experience include customer care, new product development, distribution management, market development, channel management, sales force management, route to market design and implementation. He has a proven track record in management of B2B and B2C businesses.

Mr. Ajijola is a marketing professional with over 20 years cognate experience in the field. He joined the institute in 1997 and is currently the Chairman of Premidat Engineering Limited and DG-4 Travels and Tourism Services Limited. He was elected into the Council of NIMN at the 2016 AGM.

Mrs. Olufade is a seasoned and accomplished Corporate Executive with many years cognate experience in Marketing and Business Administration. Formerly Executive Director, Marketing (NTA), she is currently the MD/CEO of DIGIMAGE Consult and Chairman, NIMN Lagos Island Chapter. Her skills, expertise and competencies include being a consummate marketing strategist, market and trend analyst, business and marketing analyst, staff development, a deep knowledge of product launch strategies and execution. She is also a team builder, coach and mentor.

Mr. Okafor is a graduate of marketing from the prestigious University of Nigeria (Enugu Campus). He is a skilled Senior Commercial (Sales and Marketing) Professional with over 25 years of experience traversing Sales, Marketing and Nutrition in Nigeria and West Africa.

Chief Gbagi is the current Head of Sales for Intercontinental Distillers Limited Lagos, makers of quality drinks in Nigeria. He is a fellow of the NIMN and a strong supporter of the institute in many other ways. He has cognate experience in the sales/marketing profession as a strategist and a sales management resource person.

Dr. Oriavwote is currently the MD/CEO of Salus Trust Ltd, a National Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO). He has 35 years experience in Sales & Marketing, Management Consulting, Healthcare Financing and Insurance Practice both in the United States of America and Nigeria. Peter has served the NIMN in several positions and capacities from 2016. He has been Chairman, NIMN Lagos Mainland Chapter (2016 till date).

In conclusion, Mr. Agenmonmen said: “Following from these resolutions of the Council, the Electoral Committee will issue new timelines for the elections. The Registrar will also soon issue the formal notice of the Annual General Meeting.”